Departing coach Ufuk Talay insists Wellington are focused not just on reaching the A-League Men finals but winning them, as the clock ticks down on the regular season.
The fifth-placed Phoenix need four points from their remaining two matches to guarantee another year of finals football, starting on Friday night against Western Sydney.
Talay noted it was the same assignment his side were handed last year, when Wellington won 2-1 to lock up a finals place.
"Last year we played them as well in a very important game and we won that game to cement a spot in the top six," he said.
"These are the games that you want to be involved in. They have a lot of meaning to where we can end up."
Between that match, Wanderers coach Marko Rudan previously being in charge at the Phoenix, and an encounter earlier this season that ended with Wanderers captain Marcelo putting Wellington keeper Oli Sail in a headlock, there's a bit of history between the two teams.
Talay insisted there was "no beef" and that irritating opponents meant his side were "doing something well".
The fourth-placed Wanderers qualified for their first series in six years with a 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory last week.
While Rudan's side already have their invitation, Talay needs to arrest a worrying form slump for Wellington to make the end-of-season party.
The Phoenix are winless in four, throwing away a chance to win last week in Auckland by conceding a late equaliser to hapless Brisbane.
The run has prompted the suggestion Wellington's players have been distracted by off-field turmoil.
Last month three senior players - Clayton Lewis, Sail and Steven Ugarkovic - announced they will take off at season's end.
Talay followed suit last week, with his assistant Giancarlo 'Chiefy' Italiano due to steer the ship next season.
"It was never a distraction for me. These things happen in football," Talay said.
"I've been solely focused on finishing the job.
"Hopefully it wasn't a distraction for Chiefy. He's really focused on what he needs to do as well so we can finish in a good position this season."
Barring a late fadeout, Talay will leave New Zealand to rave reviews from his first senior coaching role.
His tenure has coincided with COVID-19 forcing Wellington offshore for two seasons, but the former Galatasaray midfielder has made finals in two out of three campaigns so far - with a third likely to follow next month.
He said he was desperate to give the club their first home final since 2015 as a departing gift.
"We haven't had the opportunity to do (that) since I've been here," he said.
"Hopefully we get to come come back and play in front of our own fans."
